The Battle of the Peaks and Long Stop Hill

The Battle of the Peaks is the first book to be devoted to a series of forgotten battles in the spring of 1943 in the hills of northern Tunisia. The author brings to life the fascinating story of a successful British victory in April 1943 largely achieved by the 78th “Battle Axe” Division which has been all but forgotten by most historians. This book describes how well led British troops wrested control of a series of high peaks, and thus inflicted a clear defeat on troops of the famed Afrika Korps. This in turn secured a victory which soon led to the surrender of 250,000 Axis troops in May 1943. The author begins by tracing the background to these operations and the wider Tunisian campaign. It then briefly describes the bloody race for Tunis in late 1942 and the first battle of Longstop Hill on Christmas Day. He continues by chronicling in detail the tough fighting during Operations Sweep and Vulcan that took place in the hills west and north of Medjez el Bab, Tunisia in spring 1943. The book provides a clear picture both of the infantry and tank operations but also the key role played by supporting troops in this battle. This account focuses not only on the fighting but also of the personality and character of the men who fought, and sometimes died, in the Battle of the Peaks. It concludes with a detailed description of the fighting during the final Battle of Longstop Hill, an action that led to the award of a Victoria Cross to Major Jack Anderson. Written by a former Army officer and amateur historian, this book is based on extensive research using both primary sources and several unpublished personal accounts. It includes 12 specifically designed maps and 30 rarely seen photographs of the battle and the battle area.

“This title covers the operational and tactical developments to seize vital ground covering the Allied final approach to Tunis.” Miniature Wargames

‘’GBG Member Ian Mitchell, has produced what can only be described as a Divisional campaign history of the highest quality. Right from the front cover through to the bibliography this book is top class. The maps, the narrative and numerous photographs really do the 78th ‘Battle Axe’ Division and the men who wore its emblem proud. As a first book this is outstanding, let’s hope we don’t have to wait too long for the next!’’ Despatches

"To say this work is comprehensive would be an understatement. The author has gone to extreme lengths to uncover the truth about this campaign. His list of sources and bibliography is impressively full and this is reflected in the text where different sources are compared in order to provide a composite picture of events.....This book, which is imbued with the author’s passion for his subject, is written in an engaging and informative style. The chronology is supplemented by fascinating biographical detail and the referencing is meticulous and varied – often citing unpublished primary sources.....It goes a long way in filling a gap in the historiography of the Tunisian campaign." www.walkingthebattlefields.com

"In this, his first book, Ian Mitchell provides the most comprehensive account yet published of a series of hard battles in Tunisia in 1943 in which our antecedent regiments played a major role as part of 78th (The Battleaxe) Division’s 38 (Irish) Brigade.......[the author] has done signal service to those of the Battleaxe Division who fought, suffered and, often, died to clear the way in such harsh mountains." Blackthorn, Regimental Journal of the Royal Irish Rangers

"....An authoritative study of the Battle of The Peaks and Long Stop Hill." British Journal for Military History

"It is a valuable addition to an almost unremembered campaign”. The Guards Magazine

"The narrative structure of the book and presentation of the planning methodologies (and what influenced the decision making) is really quite superb.....This is an excellent work of research and presentation and a very worthy addition to anyone’s library." British Army Review

"Ultimately, Mitchell’s book is the only work on the fighting for Long Stop Hill and the surrounding peaks. In time, historians will combine Mitchell’s excellent scholarship on the British 78th Division with material on their German opponents and the Tunisian Campaign as a whole. The history of the Second World War will be stronger for its inclusion." Canadian Military History Journal, Vol 1, Issue 2, 2022